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NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently on the International Space Station (ISS). Both passengers are planning to vote in the November 2024 US presidential election. But the question arises as to how astronauts can vote from space.
Astronauts have the right to vote in elections
Texas passed a law in 1997 giving astronauts the right to vote in elections. According to this law, if a person is in space, he can vote electronically. This law was made because most of NASA's astronauts live in Houston, Texas.
How to vote from space?
The voting process from the space station is simple. Before voting, astronauts prepare by completing all the necessary paperwork for the election they wish to participate in. Then, a secure electronic ballot is sent to them from NASA's Mission Control Center. Astronauts receive ballots by email. They then fill it out and send it to the corresponding county clerk's office on Earth.
Who was the first person to vote from space?
This process began in 1997, when David Wolf became the first astronaut to vote from space. Since then, many other astronauts have followed this process. Sunita also voted from space in 2016 and 2020. Sunita and Butch are facing some challenges this time. Their return plan has been delayed. Now both will stay on the ISS till February 2025. Butch said, “It has been a difficult journey, but we try to do our best every day.”